MJ Tierney lifted the siege for Ballyroan-Abbey but there was more misery to come.

We almost had the game’s first goal in the 27th minute when Colm Murphy raced clear but just as he is about to pull the triggor, Gavin Tynan maked a brilliant block. The ball came to Jordan Fitzpatrick and his first time shot was deflected over the bar by a defender.

Nine minutes of first half injury time were signalled, but 11 were played, and in the first of them, Diarmuid Whelan cut the gap with the score of the half after gathering the ball on the 45 in front of the stand and turning his man before splitting the posts.

But we had the game’s opening goal in the fifth minute of injury time. David Murphy won a Ballyroan kick-out and played the ball to Johnny Fulham who in turn found Colm Murphy and he rounded Andrew Bonham to score.

Kevin McGrath then kicked a point and Diarmuid Whelan brought the half to a close with a free to leave Portarlington 1-10 to 0-4 ahead at the break.

The game continued in a similar fashion on the restart with Colm Murphy (3), Evan Lyons and Jordan Fitzpatrick all pointing in the first five minutes of the second half.

Stradbally native Alan Hartnett is a graduate of Knockbeg College who has worked in the local and national media since 2008. Alan has a BA in Economics, Politics and Law and an MA in Journalism from DCU. His happiest moment was when Jody Dillon scored THAT goal in the Laois senior football final in 2016.